The Grandmaster (2013)

The Grandmaster Synopsis

Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Wong Kar Wai, The Grandmaster is an epic action feature inspired by the life and times of the legendary kung fu master, Ip Man. The story spans the tumultuous Republican era that followed the fall of China’s last dynasty, a time of chaos, division and war that was also the golden age of Chinese martial arts. Filmed in a range of stunning locations that include the snow-swept landscapes of Northeast China and the subtropical South, The Grandmaster features virtuoso performances by some of the greatest stars of contemporary Asian cinema, including Tony Leung and Ziyi Zhang.

This week we've got a crazy theory about Wong Kar-Wai's The Grandmaster that we'd like to float by you, after David watched the original cut, hated it, then watched the American cut (now opening in theaters) and really hated it, then decided the original cut was a masterpiece. How did this happen? Is the new movie from the director of In the Mood for Love and Chungking Express worth your time?

If you think The Grandmaster is a typical biopic you obviously don't know Wong, who in the film infuses even the most average moment-- a button placed on a table, for example-- with stunning beauty. You have to see The Grandmaster for yourself to really understand it, but to get an idea of what to expect, you can also start with a limited edition comic, which is signed by Wong Kar Wai himself